Kogi doctors set to resign over unpaid salaries

More than 80 percent of doctors in Kogi State are set to resign their appointment over their unpaid salaries as well as the illegal dismissal of 30 percent of their members during the last concluded screening exercise.

The Acting Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi State chapter, Dr Godwin Tijani, in a statement on Monday, noted that the striking doctors had indicated their readiness to resign.

“As I am speaking with you, the doctors are monitoring the activity of the state as it regards the no work no pay policy government has adopted and the threat of sack if NMA failed to suspend the ongoing strike; anything otherwise the doctors will tender their resignation letter.

“Remember, Kogi State has one of the poorest health indices in the federation and the lowest number of doctors in the country, about 3.5% of the expected numbers. Majority of doctors in the state service have left because of poor welfare.

“Imagine a doctor evicted from his apartment because of his inability to pay house rent, his children sent out of school because he cannot pay school fees, trekking to work and cannot eat well and you expect to get the best from such a doctor? You are putting innocent patient’s life at risk. A hungry and angry doctor is a dangerous doctor”. The statement reads in parts.

The NMA Acting chairman called on stakeholders to appeal to the state government to pay doctors their salaries rather than constantly threatening them.

He pointed out that they were demanding for the payment of their salaries and reinstatement of their colleagues.

“The Commissioner for Health sent an SMS to doctors yesterday. The SMS which was sent through the Director Administration Hospital Management Board (HMB) directed all hospitals to submit to his office attendance register on daily basis, failure to comply will lead to termination of appointment.

“This is the level we are now; instead of looking for amicable resolution, we are being faced with sack threat and intimidation on a daily basis”, Dr Tijani added.